4 thoughts on “Summing up the nonsense that is the 2012 apocalypse {video}”

I’m not saying here that I think that “the Mayans predicted 2012 apocalypse”.

However, anyone who is swayed by this video (or *any such video*) is simply a mush-brain who is no science-based skeptic whatsoever. It passes way beyond a persuasive essay and becomes mere psychologically-shaming propaganda. If you only intended it as humourous, then you should have said so.

Furthermore, the true critical thinker will notice that even THIS video mentions the cycles of the Mayan calendar. And would then wonder critically if perhaps THAT is what is meant by a “new age” in 2012. Not some hippies’ cannabis interpretation. Just a thought.

The video was clearly a humorous one, and was not meant to be a scholarly dissection of the supposed Mayan Apocalypse. For a better discussion, see this new article at Psychology Today or listen to this <em>Point of Inquiry podcast with an astrophysicist from Colorado.

That being said, the video was not way off base as you suggest. It sums up the objections quickly and succinctly, if not in a rigorous scientific way. While the video does no go through the evidence, it doesn’t exactly fly in the face of it either. Let’s not get to the point where everything with an opinion is propaganda. Especially if those opinions are based on the science.

Apparently, the Mayan long count calendar is in a base 20 system. We are entering into the 13 next December. It’s a simple ticking over of a counter, that’s all. Think of it like you do your car odometer. The next cycle happens when your mileage transitions from 999 to 1000. Why would this signify the end of the world?

Lastly, and most importantly, everyone just assumes that the Mayan’s had something right about the universe and its inner workings, based on supernatural claims. Not one supernatural claim has ever been proven true, so why should we believe any claim that presupposes this metaphysics? Any (US) 10-year old with even a public school education now knows more about the universe than the Mayan’s ever did.

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About the Author

Kyle Hill is a science writer and communicator who specializes in finding the secret science in your favorite fandom. His work has appeared in Wired, The Boston Globe, Scientific American, Popular Science, Discover Magazine, and more. He is a TV correspondent for Al Jazeera America's science and technology show TechKnow.